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Exhibit 31.1 SARBANES-OXLEY ACT SECTION 302CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER I, Stephen W. Lilienthal, certify that:  1.
    I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of CNA Financial Corporation;2.
    Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this
annual report;3.
    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations
and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;4.
    The registrants other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and
internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f))
for the registrant and have:  a)
    Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure
controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that
material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities,
particularly during the period in which this annual report is being
prepared;b)
    Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such
internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our
supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of
financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;c)
    Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants disclosure controls and
procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the
effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of
the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; andd)
    Disclosed in this annual report any change in the registrants internal
control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants most
recent fiscal quarter (the registrants fourth quarter in the case of an
annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the registrants internal control over financial
reporting; and  5.
    The registrants other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation
of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of
registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):  a)
    All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably
likely to adversely affect the registrants ability to record, process,
summarize and report financial information; andb)
    Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a significant role in the registrants internal control
over financial reporting. Dated: February 25, 2005
    
    By
    
    /s/ Stephen W. LilienthalStephen W. LilienthalChief Executive Officer